Discoourse cohesion, Zero Anaphora & Maj Text

Matthew Brook O'Donnell m.odonnell at roehampton.ac.uk
Mon Dec 4 12:40:34 EST 2000



> 
> The use of a full explicit name to indicate a participant who is already
> predominate in the larger discourse reduces the level of cohesion between
> the discourse segments. 

I'm not sure I agree with you here. A reference to a participant is still a
cohesive tie, whatever the form. From the textual stand point a full reference
to a participant adds another element to the participant chain and thus builds
cohesion.

> The use of an anaphoric pronoun or zero anaphora to
> indicate the same participant forces the reader to "remember" the
> participant and thus increases the discourse cohesion between the discourse
> segments. Of course there are other good reasons for using a full explicit
> noun phrase to name a participant. I was just highlighting one aspect of the
> question. 
> 

The psychological/cognitive effect of a full reference is not necessarily linked
to the textual cohesion. Even with a full reference the reader may have to do
some 'remembering' as to what and who the participant is in the discourse.

> You have an interesting e-mail address.
> 

Oh? Why is that?

>

-- 
Matthew Brook O'Donnell
OpenText.org
Centre for Advanced Theological Research
University of Surrey Roehampton
80 Roehampton Lane
London
SW15 5SL

tel. (0181) 392 3000 ext. 4162
fax. (0181) 392 3491

e-mail: m.odonnell at roehampton.ac.uk

http://www.OpenText.org



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